Providing he holds his nerve and doesn’t let fear engulf him, David can’t miss! Goliath’s size will be his downfall. Just aim in the right direction and its likely to be a bulls eye! The Indian giant of injustice and corruption we are facing can’t avoid being hit by our prayers.
The Hindu festival season is starting – bad news. On October 7th the courts close down till November for the celebrations in honour of many of their ‘gods’. If Masih das and Sarita’s bail application isn’t heard this week then its another 3 weeks behind bars for them with Continue reading →
The Christian life is not for wimps; I expect you found that out a long time ago. We follow someone who was mocked, laughed at, misunderstood by his own family, criticised, run out of town, abused, rejected, betrayed, and then executed by the religious establishment for not being religious enough. Why then do we Christians seem surprised when letting people know we are following this Jesus that we get the mickey taken out of us, are criticised, misunderstood, and isolated and kept at arm’s length by people who think of us as ‘religious’.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer in this struggle for justice for missionaries Masih das and Sarita facing trumped up charges in India to close down their church planting work amongst the Santhali tribal people.
Monday 5th September is Masih das’ birthday; its also the date of another possible court appearance to apply for bail. I say possible because promised dates have come and gone because either the police have failed to turrn up, or else they haven’t had their papers properly prepared, anything to extend the time Masih das and Sarita are kept in custody. We understand this is a common tactic that could go on for three months.
We have tried everything we can to get them released and have become very disheartened and discouraged at the Continue reading →
The longed for and prayed for bail hearing for missionaries Masih das and Sarita in India on Monday did not take place. Everyone turned up in court with high expectations, except the police, who hadn’t got their act together and didn’t have their files on the case ready – after six weeks! The judge reprimanded them, but it was like water off a ducks back. Those behind the scenes who pull the strings want to delay this hearing for as long as possible; they really do want to see an end to Christian work amongst the Santhali tribe. And it’s made me so angry; what’s happening is so wrong, and it seems as if we are helpless to do anything about it.
And all of the time two of the finest Christians I have ever known have had their lives put on hold in two horrible prison cells.
A great promise from God to speak out when feeling totally overwhelmed and inadequate when facing a gigantic challenge is found in 2 Chronicles 20v15 and 1 Samuel 17v47
This is a promise I’ve known and that has been important to me over the years when facing different challenging situations. Several good friends have pointed me back to it again, so I’ve been trying to revisit it and apply it to this situation from a distance of several thousands miles.
Having woken early on Monday morning to get news from the bail hearing in India and expecting to hear of a great break-through and triumph from our victorious God, my heart was crushed. I heard nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing had happened; family members had travelled for 5 hours to be in the court and nothing happened. Nothing. The police didn’t care; no one seemed to care.
‘Lord this is Your battle, is it too hard for you?’
Then came that small quiet voice. ‘yes it is my battle, not yours. Please leave it to me. Make yourself still and watch. I’ve set the ambushes. I can use confusion. Watch the confusion result in the enemy attacking himself’.
It’s hard to make myself still. I used to like loud praying, walking about and declaring the victory of King Jesus the Tomb Buster, praying in tongues, praying the Lord’s Prayer, binding and loosing, praying with an open Bible, praying with others, praying over the phone … but something is changing in me.
‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…. you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you’. (2 Chronicles. 20:15-17) .
How to make myself be still? That’s my challenge.
If you’ve learnt how to do this please post some tips below.
I’ve added a link to an old familiar song that has been rising up in my spirit to strengthen my heart to be still during this battle. Listen to it and let praise rise up in your heart in whatever circumstances you find yourself in today, knowing the battle is not yours, but belongs to the Lord. Its incredible how in being still you can hear the battle march!
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His love endures forever!
Pioneer church planters Masih das and Sarita are still being held in prison where they’ve been since 22nd July because a 10 year old child in their hostel was brutally murdered.
They have been working in quite a remote part of India’s Hindu heartland amongst the Santhali tribe for 15 years. All their good work for the Kingdom of God has come screeching to a halt. They have been beaten and tortured along with some of the children. News has been very hard to get. Their son Aman has only been allowed to visit each of them in the men’s prison and women’s prison twice, for just five minutes each time. Through those visits we have Continue reading →
The Christian life is not for wimps; I expect you found that out a long time ago. We follow someone who was mocked, laughed at, misunderstood by his own family, criticised, run out of town, abused, rejected, betrayed, and then executed by the religious establishment for not being religious enough. Why then do we Christians seem surprised when letting people know we are following this Jesus that we get the mickey taken out of us, are criticised, misunderstood, and isolated and kept at arm’s length by people who think of us as ‘religious’.
Eagle Believers 